By Jack Sharry
My wife and I fell in love with the Mad River Valley 15 years ago and purchased a second home here. We hoped it would become a family gathering place and it has. Like us, our four sons and their families call The Valley home, if only part time.
We understand the economic challenges of our community and want to see it thrive. That is why I am participating in the Mad River Valley Economic Vitality Series and encourage other second-home owners to actively engage in working to ensure The Valley's economic vitality.
All of us who call the Mad River Valley home do so as a matter of choice. We appreciate the quality of life, the sense of respect and care, the beauty, creativity and recreational, cultural and social options that are in abundance. This is a wonderful place to live, work, play and raise a family.
I am especially interested in the trend of people moving to places for the lifestyle and digitally commuting to their jobs. I do this each summer and through the year. On phone calls I joke, “I’m working from ‘world headquarters’ overlooking the Mad River in Vermont."
So much of our lives are digital and telecommuting is growing. Many of my full-time neighbors telecommute. While business may be conducted and paychecks generated outside The Valley, we spend our dollars here. And the pay levels many telecommuters enjoy have an important impact on all aspects of our local economy. What if we added more people like this who would contribute to our economy?
I plan to work with the Mad River Valley Economic Vitality Steering Committee to study this and determine how best to capitalize on this trend. If we can find ways to promote and expand this low-impact, high-return way to grow the local economy, it could be a big win for this place we call home.
Jack Sharry lives in Warren, VT, and Westwood, MA.
